Slow Mouth and Thick Tongue
Exodus 3 tells the story of Moses being called to lead the children of Israel. The calling of Moses from the burning bush is prominent in the Old Testament. In that passage, Moses questions God about how Israel will know that he’s to be their leader and liberator.
Like us when God calls, Moses hesitated. In Exodus 4, God patiently gives Moses multiple miracles to show the Israelites and prove his leadership: 1) the rod that turned to a snake when cast on the ground, 2) Moses’ diseased hand that is healed when he put it in his jacket, and 3) water from the Nile that turned to blood when dumped onto the ground. Moses countered God again, explaining that he had a “slow mouth and thick tongue”, and people wouldn’t listen to him. As recorded in Exodus, Moses does accept God’s call, and Israel is freed from their oppression in Egypt.
Christians through the ages have talked about how bad Moses was for not responding after these miracles. Yet, we have the greatest miracle of all, the death and resurrection of our Lord, and we are hesitant to share. We counter God’s call with explanations like, “I don’t speak well”, “no one will listen to me,”, and “who am I that anyone would listen to me?”
No one is excused from sharing the gospel story. We are commissioned to share the good news, making disciples in every nation (Matthew 28:18-20). Just like Moses, we are reassured that his presence will be with us every day until the end of the age.
There’s a world of oppressed people living next door, perhaps working with us, or even part of our families. Maybe all that it will take is the Word that you share with them. Let’s not let our “thick tongue and slow speech” keep us from sharing the gospel that liberates and brings about freedom in Christ.
-TH –